DISCUSSION ON DRAFT SCHEME.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14840, 18 February 1919, Page 5

DISCUSSION ON DRAFT SCHEME.

TO PRESERVE PEACE OF WORLD ' (Australian ana N.Z; Cable Association) (Received February 18; 11.5' a.m.) - : i ' ■ ■ ■ LONDON, February 16. v ' President Wilson, m submitting the draft of the Society of Nations said: i The v > great thing about th© .Ijeague scheme was that for the first time m , history, it gave, ihjthefto "down-.trodden ' elements of civilisaiiion'" a 6harice. '- ' ■ Lord, Cecil v.empha^isedy the. that ' the scheme .wouldc^feserye^ttß-peacalof : the . world with 'th</ least possible inter- : fererice with riatidrial/ sovereignty.- 'No J nation could? go. -to war till . all:' means of settlement of disputes had *■ been fuliy ' tried.. -No nation would' seek to .disturb the territorial settlements arrived at m peace. It will do more than ior- 1 bid-war:; it will institute international co-operation m place of international competition. . •■: ■.•.:■, •<:.••. 'i Air. Barnes expressed^ great .satisfaction at- the scheme, iin, that tit substitutes altruistic, .principles ah the settle^ ment^ "of driternatioiiaf.' troubles. He ; \ eulogisedi.-.thff ; armamenc-: reduction and) , international .labor- organisation, from ( which, he prophesied great, things. H« \ regretted the absence of provision for { an international : force. '.: ■ \\ M. tVenizelbs supported the scheme. ■'. Several references, were made during the debate to the mandatories, president Wilson, when he re-examined tKe draft, pointedly paused • on the mandatory section, saying: This has" been carefully discussed by the .' repfesentativs Powers, and ; the conclusions are embodied* m th,e .'article. Later: " one of the Hedjaz delegates emphasised' theimportance 'to them of the mandatory ] provision; claiming: : the right to select: 'i their own mandatory. i Mr. Cook and/ Sir Joseph Ward were i present at the meeting.